7 Trends in Commercial HVAC
Just like any other industry, there are new trends that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry leaders bring forth with the main aim of benefiting all stakeholders. Innovations and new advancements are only expected to get better as the years go by. With the increasing demand for commercial HVAC, the industry is continuously fine-tuning policies and trends towards introducing new changes that will encourage positive development, refine existing trends and boost innovation, efficiency, and safety.
In this article, provided by Jason of Young Management Corporation, we are taking a closer look into the latest 7 commercial HVAC building trends.
1. R-22 Phase Out
R-22 is the most common Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) industry-standard in use today, but plans are at an advanced stage to have this standard completely phased out because of its harmful effects on the Ozone layer.
In the United States, R-22 refrigerant will become illegal starting January 1, 2020. The aim of this move is to replace R-22 with environmentally-friendly refrigerants for the purposes of conserving the environment. This means that any importation or manufacturing of R-22 and many other HCFCs will be prohibited. When R-22 becomes illegal, all old R-22 systems will automatically become obsolete and no repairs will be allowed – including adding refrigerant to systems.
2. Facility Automation
Building automation has been a key issue for stakeholders for many years now. The need to ensure that facilities remain efficient has been at the center stage for these reforms. This trend is set to continue as HVAC systems are increasingly being automated in terms of control, management, and reporting methodologies. This is not about getting rid of managing facilities physically but rather realizing better optimization, efficiency, and consistency.
3. Preventive Measures
When a system is under-performing, necessary repairs should be undertaken within the shortest time possible. Introduction of a wide spectrum of preventive measures ensures that systems are able to run regular diagnosis checks to pinpoint areas that require fine-tuning to realize better performance. These preventive measures seek to achieve cost-effectiveness and efficiency as opposed to waiting until HVAC systems break down and require costly repairs.
4. Greater Push for Integration
There is an increased demand for integrated solutions in the commercial HVAC industry around the world. Emerging trends are focusing more on bringing together industries to cooperate on a technical level in order to manufacture and deliver seamless products that boost customer experience, efficiency, performance, and safety. Some of the technologies being fronted include a standardized wireless interface that enables businesses to have better control of their HVAC equipment and other related technical aspects such as electrical and power distribution.
5. Smart Technologies to Boost Savings
Although smart HVAC technology is a costly investment, it presents greater benefits in the long run especially on comfort, greater energy efficiency, and savings. In 2018, this has been among the top trends in the industry with new measures such as smart thermostats being introduced to allow remote controlling of temperature via wireless networks. This allows businesses to easily keep an eye on the performance of the system and in the process, realize significant energy savings.
6. New Taxes and Tariffs Affecting HVAC
The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that passed in late 2017 finally came into effect in 2018 with key changes that are expected to significantly affect players in numerous industries including HVAC, solar and other mechanical systems. This is the best time for business to move quickly and utilize the changes to Section 179 to realize maximum benefits. The aim of the new law is to introduce reforms on the tax code with an aim of lowering tax rates on business income, investment, and wages. With this new law, businesses can deduct up to $1 million of the total cost of an HVAC purchase for the first year the system is used up to a maximum purchase price of $2.5 million.
For commercial building owners, higher deduction rates imply that the full cost of an HVAC system can be written off in just one year. The Amended Section 179 Depreciation Rules offer building owners great incentive to boost HVAC system in facilities. Before the depreciation rule came into effect, installation of a new HVAC system was considered as a capital building improvement associated with an extended depreciation period of as many as 39 years. Full depreciation of HVAC installations within the first year means that companies get to enjoy maximum tax benefits. These changes are around only for a limited period as 2023 marks the beginning of a phase-out.
7. Workplace Re-Designs
Healthy and happy employees enjoy greater job satisfaction that leads to more job productivity. There is a new trend where industries are redesigning their workspace to boost employee health and wellness. A good working environment is achieved by having commercial air purification systems that help to ensure a healthy and comfortable office space by lowering air-borne allergens, getting rid of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ensuring that the air remains fresh and clean.